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Topic: alternative dhamma door (Read 908 times)

just asking as recently encounter some friend of mine whom is following certain master who claim to be providing "alternative" dhamma door. as far as I concern, buddha taught only one dhamma door, be it theravada nor mahayana which is the noble eight fold path.

such alternative door is reciting a certain type of mantra or chant devised by the master.

the master also claim that guan yin bodhisatva envision him a special type of chant to release and unbind the unwholesome kamma that the person did before. this is contradictory to kamma vipaka taught by buddha.

what say you?

P/S i posted in mahayana section is because the audience is mostly chinese or mahayana roots. I my self am a chinese. just feeling awkward seeing such situation. everyone would somehow gather and pay homage or worship d master instead of buddha.

In China and Japan, there has been a long jockeying of position between Zen and Pureland Buddhism. Zen emphasised practice that is challenging and generally demanded retreats or becoming a monastic, while Pureland emphasised that any amount of practice can help and anyone can begin a practice. I come from a Zen tradition, and there have certainly been people within that who consider this the only way to go - I think that lacks both compassion, and insight though.

The Buddha said teachings and practices should be chosen to suit the student. Fundamentally, a student must be responsible for themselves, for finding what practice will benefit them. So don't challenge the practice, chanting is an ancient part of traditional Buddhism, and I think it is disrespectful to that student and their teacher. Instead, look for and ask about the marks of insight, compassion, equanimity. These are the signs of development by which we should measure our practices. If your friend finds it is this practice which helps them develop these, shouldn't we all celebrate?

My only reservation on this, is schools which chant and dismiss all other schools and practices. That too lacks insight and compassion, and for me that is a warning sign - though probably best investigated teacher by teacher, asking them for their specific views rather than doctrine.